Financial insecurity is major driver of poor mental health, according to new research, prompting calls for welfare advice to be embedded in care.
Arguably, there’s never been a better time to publish a report calling for welfare advice to be integrated into mental health care, particularly in relation to money.
Not only is the cost of living continuing to rise, but on Sunday evening (10 May), broadcaster Martin Lewis was awarded the Television Special Award at the BAFTA’s in recognition of his career advising people about their money.
During his speech, he told the audience: ‘People will embrace something actionable, something real, something that helps, and they will even embrace complexity if we make it worth it.’
He added: ‘To hold power to account with trust and impartiality is needed more than ever in our fractured world.’
And the Centre for Mental Health is doing just that. On Monday (11 May), the charity published new research stating pressures including debt, unstable income and insecure housing can increase the likelihood of hospital admission.
The research, commissioned by Citizens Advice, draws on three partnerships between NHS mental health services and voluntary sector advisers across England. Patients who received welfare advice said they felt more able to manage their circumstances and less overwhelmed by practical pressures.
Staff involved in the partnerships also reported that having advice services on wards helped ease pressure on clinical teams.
Andy Bell, chief executive at Centre for Mental Health, said: ‘Welfare advice should be a part of any mental health service anywhere. High quality advice, provided by properly trained and managed workers, makes mental health services better and more efficient.
‘The forthcoming Modern Service Framework for serious mental illness in England is an opportunity to embed welfare advice as a core offer, not an added extra. It should be available in every neighbourhood mental health service, and every inpatient unit, provided by expert organisations like Citizens Advice so that it is reliable and independent.’
Stephen Amba, who lost his job before he was admitted to hospital due to a mental health crisis, said the support changed his life.
‘I was referred to the [Citizens Advice Sheffield] mental health advice team as I had claimed universal credit but wasn’t receiving any benefit from them,’ Stephen explained. ‘I didn’t know about other entitlement or what I could claim. The mental health advice team came to see me on the ward very quickly and they advised me what I was entitled to and filled out the Universal Credit questionnaire and PIP forms with me.
‘I would not have been able to fill out the forms without this help because when I am in mental health crisis I find it difficult to focus.’
News of the research has come during Mental Health Awareness Week and this year’s theme is ‘Action: for yourself, for someone else, for all of us’.
Laura Hutchinson, head of public affairs at Citizens Advice, said: ‘Everyday our advisors see the impact of financial insecurity on mental health. Pressures like debt, unstable income and insecure housing can quickly become overwhelming and push people into crisis.
‘Access to timely welfare advice is essential – not just for financial stability, but for protecting people’s mental health. Early support helps restore a sense of control, preventing problems from spiralling into crisis and reducing the need for repeat in-patient admissions.’
Image: George Pagan III/UnSplash
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